Before anyone compares this P&S with a DSLR, you must first determine what kind of photography you want to do. To write it off as just another P&S does not do justice to what the LX3 is capable of. I've seen underwater shots taken with the LX3 & I became fully convinced too. Being a travel photojournalist, sometimes it's just not viable to lug so much when you have to be on the field to document & get your story. I got it to replace my Olympus C5050z as an underwater system.......now waiting for the housing to arrive. I'm not letting go of mine for sure.